The Culpeper Minutemen Chapter, two DAR Chapters, and one C.A.R. Society gathered today in Yowell Meadow Park, near where the Culpeper Minutemen first mustered in 1775, to honor them.  Historian Jack Lynch and President Tom Hamill of the Culpeper Minutemen Chapter shared the master of ceremony duties and five chapter members participated in the color guard.  Virginia SAR 2nd Vice President Bill Schwetke brought greetings from the Virginia Society, then President Tom Hamill read a brief history of the Culpeper Minutemen.  This was followed by the reading of the Roll of Honor.  As in past years, the names of twelve of the known Culpepr Minutemen were read in alphabetical order, and after each name a bell was rung, and a brief biography read.  Those honored today included:

     Following the Roll of Honor wreathes were presented by the Virginia SAR;  the Culpeper Minutemen Chapter, SAR; the Culpeper Minute Men Chapter, NSDAR; the Fauquier Court House Chapter, NSDAR; and the Ashby Gap Chapter, C.A.R.

     This was followed by a musket volley, then taps, played by Gerry Schuck of Bugles Across America.

     After the ceremony, the Culpeper Minutemen held their June Chapter Meeting in Luigi's Restaurant in Culpeper.

Virginia Society Chancellor Eric Monday was the speaker at the annual Martinsville-Henry County Flag Day Ceremony held in the "Historic Henry County Court House- the Heritage Center" in Martinsville.  His address was “Flags of the American Revolution."
 
By local governmental proclamation, the General Joseph Martin and the Patrick Henry Chapters of the Daughters of the American Revolution sponsor the event each year.  The ceremony included patriotic music, recognition of veterans in the audience, and the posting and retiring of the colors by members of the Martinsville-Henry County Veterans' Honor Guard.  

Submitted by Bob Vogler

​Eric Monday giving his address

​(L to R)  Patrick Henry-DAR Chapter Regent-  Marcia Bauserman, Eric Monday, and Gen. Joseph Martin Chapter-DAR Regent- Susan Kanode

The Fairfax Resolves chapter presented a Flag Certificate to Bull Run Elementary School on Flag Day for their patriotic display of a new United States Flag throughout the school year. Chris Costanza, the school’s flag patrol sponsor, accepted the Flag Certificate on behalf of the school. The chapter also presented flag certificates to 5 members of the school’s flag patrol who raised and lowered the school’s flag throughout the year.
 
The school retired their old flag at the beginning of the school year and presented it to the Fairfax Resolves chapter for disposal. The chapter retired the school’s flag on Flag Day during a ceremony with the Children of the American Revolution at Freedom Memorial in Great Falls, VA, attended by Virginia Society C.A.R. President Molly McCue. 

Submitted by Jeff Thomas

L to R:  Marc Robinson (CJWII VP); Dale Corey (CJWII President); Rhonda Funkhouser (VDOT); Matthew Smith (VDOT); Lloyd Ingram (VDOT); Raleigh Watson (CJWII Flag Committee Chair).

.In recognition of Flag Day, the Thomas Nelson Chapter presented flag certificates to Mathews High School and Mission Barbecue in Mathews, VA.

​Submitted by John Priest

     On Friday evening the Fincastle Resolves Chapter hosted a Night at the Ball Park with a nice contingent of compatriots and wives, and the Virginia SAR Color Guard, who presented the colors for the National Anthem.

     On Flag Day the Richmond Chapter gathered at The Diamond to watch the Flying Squirrels battle the Portland, ME Sea Dogs; the Virginia SAR Color Guard presented the colors for the National Anthem; and hotdogs and beer were consumed.  Good publicity for the SAR and a good time for compatriots who came out to the Ball Park.

On June 11, 2018 the Colonel James Wood II Chapter commemorated Dr. Joseph Warren, namesake of our county & Revolutionary War hero.  Due to the efforts of Compatriot Larry Johnson, Warren County agreed to lower the county flag to half mast from 11 Jun (Dr Warren's birth date) to 17 Jun (Dr Warren's date of death on the battlefield).
 
Dr. Joseph Warren was an American physician who played a leading role in American patriotic organizations in Boston during the early days of the Revolutionary War.  He served as President of the Revolutionary Massachusetts Provincial Congress.  He wrote the "Suffolk Resolves" as a response to the British Parliament passing the "Intolerable Acts" in 1774 as an answer to the Boston Tea Party.  He was responsible for dispatching Paul Revere and William Dawes on their midnight ride to Lexington to warn of the British Army's approach.  Dr. Warren borrowed a musket to fight the British at the Battle of Bunker Hill on 17 Jun 1775.  Although appointed a Major General, he elected to fight with the volunteers.  He became the first martyr of the Revolutionary War after being fatally struck by a musket ball to the head.
 
Photo below (L to R)  Douglas Stanley, Warren County Administrator; Daniel Murray, Vice Chairman of the Warren County Board of Supervisors; Larry Johnson CJWII Past President; Dale Corey CJWII President; Dale Carpenter prospective member CJWII participants of the ceremony.
 
Submitted by Dale Corey

​The Colonel James Wood II Chapter marked the grave of Patriot Jacob Sperry on 9 Jun 2018 at the Mt Hebron Cemetery, Winchester, VA.  Jacob Sperry was a member of Dutch Mess.  It was a band of brothers formed from 6 members of Daniel Morgan's rifle company as they marched to join George Washington's army in 1775.
 
Below are (L to R) Rob Andrews, Erik Robinson, Bill Wood, Bill Schwetke (VASSAR 2nd VP), Dale Corey (CJWII President), Charles Jameson (Culpepper Minute Men Chapter), Paul Chase, Brett Osborn, Becky Ebert (Handley Library Archivist), Marc Robinson (CJWII VP). 

​Submitted by Dale Corey